Coronavirus Death Count Surpasses 500 Mark In Austin Area

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County surpassed 500 deaths blamed on the coronavirus this week, a level described as a "grim milestone" by local health officials who reminded residents of safeguards aimed at thwarting further respiratory illness spread.

According to a dashboard maintained by Austin Public Health, there have been 41,519 cumulative cases of coronavirus across Travis County since the pandemic's onset — three more added to the death count on Friday to reach a cumulative 502 fatalities. Statewide, there have been 23,325 COVID-19 deaths as of Thursday as shown on a Texas Department of State Health Services statistical dashboard.

Local health officials warned that while the public may be feeling pandemic fatigue, COVID-19 is not only very active but deadly across the community. The science is clear, officials wrote in an advisory: "There is no doubt that mask wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives," officials wrote.

"We are so close to having access to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, so we must stay the course to protect our loved ones," Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said in a prepared statement. "We must continue to take the same precautions we have been encouraging throughout the pandemic: wash your hands, stay home if you are sick, avoid nonessential trips outside the home, and if you do leave your home, social distance and wear a face mask."

Local deaths range from cases as young as 20 years old to those over 80, officials noted, while the majority of deaths are in persons over 60 years old. The APH surveillance dashboard (mobile link) provides more information on the demographics of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Amid the concerning news, health officials offered a glimmer of hope: Travis County ranks among the lowest pandemic-related death toll per capita compared to peer Texas counties. But officials added that due to the infectious nature of the virus, this can change rapidly if preventative behavior among Austin-Travis County residents lapses.

"One death is too many," Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said in a prepared statement. "It is hard to fathom 502 loved ones lost. We all want to return to normal, but we also want to protect our family and friends from the pandemic. Our community is strong, and we cannot do this without each other."